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Today's News - Monday, September 30, 2013

A family’s estranged daughter fired the first shot in a home invasion in Ashville on Friday that left four people dead. Police say 43-year-old Josephine Ruckinger and her husband, 43-year-old Jeffrey, arrived at her parents’ house ready to commit murder. She killed her mother, 64-year-old Roberta Frew, then Jeffrey killed Josephine’s brother, John Frew Jr. John Frew Sr. grabbed a shotgun and killed both intruders. He told police he didn’t initially realize it was his daughter and her husband. Authorities do not know of a motive. The investigation continues.

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A pizza delivery man was robbed on Sunday night in the Moxham section of Johnstown. The driver arrived at a home on Linden Avenue around 9:30 p.m. where two men allegedly assaulted him, threatened to kill him and took his money.

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A three-car accident in Richland Township on Sunday evening sent two people to Conemaugh’s Memorial Medical Center. The accident happened on Clayton Road. One driver was arrested on suspicion of driving drunk.

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Shots were fired outside of the Honey Bear Mini Mart in Richland Township early Saturday morning. No one was injured. Police are investigating.

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50-year-old Thomas Davis of Cherry Tree is due at a preliminary hearing today in Indiana County. State Police say Davis had a small handgun when he held up First Commonwealth Bank in Cherry Tree In July. Bail is set at $75 thousand cash.

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State Trooper First Class Bradley Wilson continues fighting for his life at a Pittsburgh hospital after being shot Thursday while serving a drug warrant in Brockway, Jefferson County. 60-year-old Kenneth Lees opened fire when cops arrived to bust his meth lab. Troopers returned fire, and 12-hour standoff began. When police entered the home, they found Lees dead from a self-inflicted gunshot.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Health is monitoring an outbreak of scabies at a Washington County nursing home. A staff member at the Washington County Health Center tested positive for the parasite earlier this month so all of the center's employees and residents are being treated. Symptoms of scabies include itching and pimple-like bumps on the skin.

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It's looking likely there will be a government shutdown starting tomorrow. Today the Democratic-led Senate is expected to reject a House bill to extend government funding through December 15th, while delaying implementation of the healthcare reform law for one year. Delaying or defunding Obamacare is a non-starter in the Senate and has prompted a presidential veto threat.

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The second part of BP's Gulf oil spill trial is starting today in New Orleans. It could result in the British oil giant being ordered to pay up to $17 billion for violating the Clean Water Act, the biggest environmental penalty in U.S. history.

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The Vatican is expected to raise two Popes into sainthood in a Mass that will likely draw hundreds of thousands of Catholics around Easter of next year. Later today, Pope Francis will announce the official date for the canonization of Popes John Paul the Second and John the 23rd, two of the last century's most influential Pontiffs.

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New health insurance marketplaces open tomorrow, but most of those eligible to participate don't understand them. A newly-released survey by the Commonwealth Fund found fewer than one in three people without health coverage is aware of the exchanges.

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Two U.S. Senators are calling for an inquiry into a commuter train nightmare in the Northeast. Senators Charles Schumer of New York and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut want answers about the power loss that has turned much of the service on Metro North's New Haven line inside out for several days.

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Apple, not Coca-Cola, is now the most valuable brand in the world. In fact, Coke isn't even Number Two. A new Interbrand report ranks Apple first, Google second, and Coca-Cola third. The innovative computer maker moves up from second last year while search giant Google moves from fourth to second.

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A new survey shows the average American spends more than $900 on eating out per year. In the poll conducted by Visa, Americans go out to lunch about twice per week, and spend about $18 per week. The survey also found that women are thriftier than men when it comes to eating out.

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A big duck is drawing a big crowd in Pittsburgh. A lot of people showed up Saturday for the first day to see the Rubber Duck Project floating in the Allegheny River at the Roberto Clemente Bridge. The 40-foot duck will be at the Point for three weeks. The Rubber Duck Project starts the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts.

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There's another shot at huge money for someone in the local area with a growing Mega Millions jackpot. The estimated top prize for tomorrow’s drawing is now $189 million with a cash option of $129 million.

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Look for Twitter to make a major announcement this week. The social media network is said to be planning to make its IPO filing public in the coming days. That's the word that came down Sunday from the website Quartz. Twitter is expected to be valued at close to 15 billion dollars.